Silver Minings: Miller’s days with Raiders could be numbered

Report states there is concern that the left tackle’s time in Las Vegas has an ‘expiration date’.

News broke this week that the Las Vegas Raiders left tackle Kolton Miller will be sitting out of the team’s voluntary offseason program as he seeks a new contract. While it’s not uncommon for veterans to sit out this time of year, especially when entering a contract year and looking for a new deal, Miller’s situation might be more bleak.

The 2018 first-round pick will turn 30 years old in October and has battled several injuries recently, missing OTAs and mini-camp and starting training camp on the PUP list last season. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Vincent Bonsignore, that played a role in how the situation got to this point, and Miller’s days in Las Vegas could be numbered.

“This is the second straight year that he’s gone into a season with a non-guaranteed salary. I’ve been told that he probably would have [missed voluntary workouts] last year as well, but he was rehabbing this time last year, so it was kind of a moot point,” Bonsignore said on Raider Nation Radio’s Morning Tailgate. “…That aside, is it a concern? I think there is a little bit of a concern that there’s the potential of his days here being on an expiration date, let’s put it that way.”

Bonsignore also mentioned that the Raiders’ previous regime, Tom Telesco and Antonio Pierce, wanted to extend Miller, but that doesn’t seem to be a priority for John Spytek and Pete Carroll.

“It was made very clear to me [on Wednesday] that no contract talks have begun,” Bonsignore continued. “That doesn’t mean contract talks can’t begin or won’t begin, but they haven’t begun. And that’s a little bit conspicuous and maybe telling. People that I talked to in the NFL say, ‘Look, the Raiders have a lot of cap space and the fact that contract talks haven’t started yet…what does that tell you about what they may be thinking about Kolton Miller moving forward?’”

The mention of the Raiders’ cap space is an interesting point. Spytek and Carroll have already let several key players from last year’s team, like Tre’von Moehrig, Robert Spillane and Nate Hobbs, walk this offseason despite having plenty of funds to retain them. Could Miller be the next player to get shown the door?

Adding more fuel to the fire, multiple reports this week have linked Las Vegas to Missouri offensive tackle Armand Membou with the sixth pick of next Thursday’s NFL Draft. Also, LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell was recently in town for a Top 30 visit.

If Miller is on his way out, the New England Patriots are a logical trade partner. The Patriots desperately need a blind-side protector for second-year quarterback Drake Maye, especially if they don’t or aren’t planning to take one with the fourth pick of the draft. New England also currently holds nine picks for next weekend, including two third-rounders. The organization might be willing to part with one of those selections for a left tackle.

In Other Raiders’ Links:

• Carroll, Spytek connected in draft process: “Both Spytek and Carroll talked about how well they are working together and how their draft philosophy is in lockstep,” Silver and Black Pride’s Bill Williamson wrote. “Spytek said he thinks there is good depth in the draft and he thinks some of the deeper positions matches up with the team’s needs across the board and he and Carroll are on the same page in that area.”
• To Ashton Jeanty or not to Ashton Jeanty: A look at what the Raiders’ draft hauls could look like if the Boise State running back is taken sixth overall and if the club goes in a different route.
• Raiders offense-heavy in seven-round mock draft: NFL Media’s Chad Reuter had the Silver and Black taking a quarterback, offensive lineman, cornerback and wide receiver in the first four rounds, respectively.
• Tom Brady guest speaker for Carroll’s class: Las Vegas’ head coach is teaching a class at USC, one of his old stomping grounds, called “The Game of Life,” and had Brady speak to his students. The Trojans’ women’s basketball star JuJu Watkins, who is enrolled in Carroll’s class, also shared some words of wisdom.